Learning Outcomes

The department learning outcomes are expressed in the proficiency range and performance descriptors aligned to the national standards for the foreign language education (ACTFL, ILR). Expected learning outcomes vary from language to language according to the language difficulty, the modes of communication (listening, speaking, reading, writing, culture), and the programs – the language core program, minor, and major (Arabic, Chinese). The TSAT (Tri-service Academy Test), oral interviews, in-house tests, student presentations, essays, and/or portfolios are used to assess learning outcomes.

The Language Core Program (4 semesters/192 hours)

Midshipmen completing the core-program in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Russian will be able to: (Novice range)

• Express themselves in conversations on familiar topics using a variety of words, phrases, simple sentences, and questions that have been highly practiced and memorized (Speaking)
• Present information on very familiar topics using a variety of words, phrases, and sentences that have been practiced and memorized (Speaking/Writing)
• Comprehend highly practiced and basic messages when supported by visual or contextual cues, restatement, and when the message contains familiar structure (Listening)
• Obtain meaning of the main idea from simple, highly-predictable oral or written texts (Reading)
• Use some culturally appropriate gestures and formulaic expressions in highly practiced applications (Culture)
• Show awareness of the most obvious cultural differences or prohibitions (Culture)

Midshipmen completing the language core program in French, German and Spanish will be able to: (Novice/Intermediate Range)

• Express self and participate in conversations on familiar topics (Speaking)
• Handle short social interactions in everyday situations by initiating, maintaining, and ending a conversation to satisfy basic needs (Listening/Speaking)
• Communicate in contexts relevant to oneself and others, and one’s immediate environment (Speaking/Writing)
• Obtain main ideas and some supporting details on familiar topics (Reading)
• Make inferences by identifying key details from the text (Reading)
• Present information and express own thoughts about familiar topics (Speaking/Writing)
• Recognize and use some culturally appropriate vocabulary, expressions, and gestures when participating in everyday interactions (Culture)
• Demonstrate some knowledge of cultural differences related to written communication (Writing/Culture)
• Recognize that differences exist in cultural behaviors and perspectives and can conform to them in familiar situations (Culture)

Language Minor (6 semesters/288 hours)

Midshipmen completing minor in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian are able to: (Novice/Intermediate Range)

• Express self and participate in conversations on familiar topics (Speaking)
• Handle short social interactions in everyday situations by initiating, maintaining, and ending a conversation to satisfy basic needs (Listening/Speaking)
• Communicate in contexts relevant to oneself and others, and one’s immediate environment (Listening/Speaking)
• Obtain main ideas and some supporting details on familiar topics (Reading)
• Make inferences by identifying key details from the text (Reading)
• Present information and express own thoughts about familiar topics (Speaking/Writing)
• Recognize and use some culturally appropriate vocabulary, expressions, and gestures when participating in everyday interactions (Culture)
• Demonstrate some knowledge of cultural differences related to written communication (Writing/Culture)
• Recognize that differences exist in cultural behaviors and perspectives and can conform to them in familiar situations (Culture)

Midshipmen completing minor in French, German, and Spanish will be able to: (Intermediate/Advanced Range)

• Express self to maintain conversations on familiar topics and new concrete social, academic, and work-related topics (Speaking)
• Handle situations with an unexpected complication (Listening/Speaking)
• Share their point of view in discussion (Speaking/Writing)
• Obtain main ideas and supporting details on familiar and some new, concrete topics from a variety of more complex texts that have a clear, organized structure (Reading)
• Appraise tone, style, and author perspective from literary, social and political products
• Present information and express self with detail and organization on familiar and some new concrete social, academic and professional topics  (Speaking/Writing)
• Use knowledge of cultural differences between own culture and target culture(s) as well as increasing knowledge of the target culture(s) to interpret texts that are heard, read, or viewed (Culture)
• Use cultural knowledge appropriate to presentation increasingly reflective of authentic cultural practices and perspectives (Culture/Speaking/Writing)
• Compare and contrast cultural knowledge of the target culture(s) studied (Culture)

Major in Arabic and Chinese (8 semesters/ 384+ hours)

Midshipmen completing the major in Arabic and Chinese are able to: (Intermediate/Advanced Range)

• Express self to maintain conversations on familiar topics and new concrete social, academic, and work-related topics (Speaking)
• Understand and produce fairly organized, cohesive, and detailed discourse (Listening/Speaking/Writing)
• Share point of view in discussion (Listening/Speaking)
• Obtain main ideas and supporting details on familiar and some new, concrete topics from a variety of more complex texts that have a clear, organized structure (Reading)
• Make inferences and derive meaning from context and linguistic features (Reading)
• Appraise tone, style, and author perspective from literary, social and political products (Reading)
• Use cultural knowledge to conform linguistically and behaviorally in many social and some work-related interactions (Culture)
• Use knowledge of cultural differences between own culture and target culture(s) as well as increasing knowledge of the target culture(s) to interpret texts that are heard, read, or viewed (Culture/Listening/Reading)
• Use cultural knowledge appropriate to the presentational context increasingly reflective of authentic cultural practices and perspectives (Culture/Speaking/Writing)
• Compare and contrast cultural knowledge of the target culture(s) studied (Culture)

References

ACTFL Performance Descriptors for Language Learners (2012) 

World Language Programs - Department of Defense Education Activity